do it (home) part 2

In 1993, Hans Ulrich Obrist together with artists Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier, conceived do it, an exhibition based entirely on artists’ instructions, which could be followed to create temporary art works for the duration of a show. do it has challenged traditional exhibition formats, questioned authorship, and championed art’s ability to exist beyond a single gallery space. Since do it began, many new versions have appeared, including do it (museum), do it (tv), and do it (in school). Over time, do it has grown from 12 to over 400 sets of artists’ instructions, and has been shown in more than 150 art spaces in over 15 countries.

The Reykjavik Art Museum was one of the first spaces to host a do it exhibition, but Hans Ulrich Obrist, in his thirties, already a saught after curator, came to the Iceland and curated the exhibition that  opened at the Reykjavik Art Museums, Kjarvalsstaðir in 1996. For the exhibition a catalogue was published with instructions for do it (museum), do it (home) and screen shots from do it (tv). do it (tv) was shown in the public television station RÚV and do it (home) appeared in the newspaper Morgunblaðið. More information on the exhibition in 1996 can be found HERE.

As many around the world are experiencing social distancing and orders to stay at home, the Reykjavik Art Museum is joining Independent Curators International (ICI) and over 50 art spaces around the world in sharing do it (home). A version of do it envisioned by Obrist in 1995, do it (home) assembles a set of artists instructions that can easily be realized in one’s own home.

To Obrist, “do it has always been global and local, public and private — spheres of life that for many have coalesced in recent months.” do it (home) will take you away from your screens, and recreate an art experience at home. You will respond to the artists’ call, follow their lead, enter their world, and realize an artwork on their behalf. When you’re ready to return to the screen, share that you did it! Make connections with other doers on Instagram, #doithome

Click here to view and download all do it (home) part 2 instructions!

Artists Include: Etel Adnan, Chino Amobi, Alvaro Barrington, Dineo Seshee Bopape, Andrea Bowers, BTS, Cao Fei, Gabriel Chaile, Paul Chan, Boris Charmatz, Ian Cheng, Judy Chicago, Hélène Cixous, Megan Cope, Shawanda Corbett, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Aria Dean, Es Devlin, Goran Đorđević, Olafur Eliasson, Édouard Glissant, Ayesha Green, Marlon Griffith, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, bani haykal, Huang Yong Ping, Luchita Hurtado, Pierre Huyghe, Evan Ifekoya, Suzanne Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Carla Juaçaba, Dozie Kanu, Yazan Khalili, Christine Sun Kim, Kim Heecheon, Liu Chuang, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Jota Mombaça, Oscar Murillo, Gerald Murnane, Eileen Myles, Ana Navas, Otobong Nkanga, Laura Ortman, Sondra Perry, Asad Raza, Ugo Rondinone, Dayanita Singh, Hito Steyeryl, Latai Taumoepeau, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Kemang Wa Lehulere, and Franz West.

do it (home) is curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and produced by Independent Curators International (ICI), New York. do it (home) is made available to art spaces internationally free of charge, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, with the support of ICI’s Board of Trustees, contributors to ICI’s Access Fund, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Jeanne and Dennis Masel Foundation.

#doithome